Re: salt water and my new trailer
 

I stand corrected. The correct name for aluminum rusting is Aluminum Oxide otherwise known as rust.

Aluminum corrodes but it does not rust. Rust only refers to iron and steel corrosion.

Aluminum is actually very prone to corrosion. However, aluminum corrosion is aluminum oxide, a very hard material that actually protects the aluminum from further corrosion. Aluminum oxide corrosion also looks a lot more like aluminum so it isn't as easy to notice as rusted iron.

When iron corrodes the color changes and it actually expands. This expanding and color change can produce large red flakes that we all know as rust. Unlike aluminum oxide, the expanding and flaking off of rust exposes new metal to further rusting. This why it is so important to provide a barrier so rust doesn't start.

Re: salt water and my new trailer
 

I don't think washing it down helps that much, they rust in fresh water as stated above. Galvanized is ugly when new but in 20 years it is still only as ugly as it was new. I use galvanized as my trailers for hauling boats and the only things that need replacement are leaf springs, brakes and hubs. My trailers are constantly being submerged in salt water.

Re: salt water and my new trailer
 

I had a myco that was totally disassembled and galvanized. If the galvanization isn't perfect you will still see rust at joints. The only thing you can do is keep checking it and hitting it with silver paint that matches the ugly galvanization. But once you dunk it in salt, you will still have problems with the springs, shackles, axles, brake backing plates, wheels, hubs, anything that is steel. If you have an aluminum trailer the problems with the frame are less, but you still have the issue of electrolosys with the dissimilar metals such as stainless bolts, etc. All trailers just require maintenance.

Re: salt water and my new trailer
 

I did some cost checking. To galvanize my 40' long Myco: $4,000 not including paint stripping.

I have Galvanized pilings supporting a dock in salt water. They sell a zinc stick to melt onto exposed metal or welded joints and it is pretty darn effective. As it was explained to me the zinc arrests the rust and envelopes it preventing spreading.

Last, although I agree galvanizing is ugly. IMO, aluminum trailers aren't that great to look at comapared to a painted trailer.

Re: salt water and my new trailer
 

Mine is steel galvanized and then coated with a black plastic coat. Like the stuff that goes in a back of a pickup for protection. Looks great, No rust at all!
You can always bolt blocks of zinc to youe trailer. It will give up electrons and slow down the rust a heck of a lot. Just like the ones on you drive save it from decay. Jas

Re: salt water and my new trailer
 

Did you apply the plastic coating yourself? Is it textured like bedliners? what preparation to the galvanized trailer did you do?

Re: salt water and my new trailer
 

I saw a friends beautiful steel trailer melt away in 2 years after he moved down to Fla. Believe it was a Myco, he also careful washed in down after each dunking, but hard to get inside beams, etc. He now has a great alum trailer, very heavy duty. I've wondered about getting a similar even though we fresh water boat.

Re: salt water and my new trailer
 

This is how prone aluminum trailers are to rusting. This aluminum trailer I bought new with my fishboat in 1988. It turns 19 years old next month.

I'm on the second axle, and third set of springs. There is nothing you can do to prevent the springs and axle from rusting. I completely undercoated the springs and axle before I ever dunked this trailer. I think if anything, it made the springs rust faster. There was no sign of the axle rusting......until it broke in half on the way to the Suwannee River on July 3rd.:(

Re: salt water and my new trailer
 

Au contrair! I have a friend who is slightly anal about his boat maintainence. We have a Donzi meet every year in Sarasota. Last year, his aluminum trailer looked like polished stainless steel. This year it looked like it was dipped in chrome.:cool:

Re: salt water and my new trailer
 

I just for the life of me cannot see why someone would buy a steel trailer over an aluminum. Some say aluminum flexes more when towing, but I've never felt it.